Green/Environment

It’s all about survival! On Saturday, April 25 at 2:00-3:00PM, engaging raptors including an owl, falcon and EAGLE, will visit the Community Room to demonstrate and model their amazing survival characteristics and techniques. Join our friend from the Leslie Science and Nature Center as they present a hands-on exploration of feathers, skulls, and other bird parts and provide a stimulating introduction to these birds of prey. Help us round out our Earth Week celebrations by appreciating the beauty of these Hunters of the Sky!

I now can identify certain birds by song thanks to this book. The Backyard Birdsong Guide: A Guide to Listening by Donald Kroodsma is a real treat — especially as Spring approaches. Look up a variety of birds located in Eastern and Central North America and you will find a photo of the bird, a brief description, information about their habitat, as well as information about their singing. But what is really nifty is that you can then punch in the number located next to the bird in the sound device located in the book and listen to the bird singing!

You can get rid of your old working refrigerator by letting DTE Energy recycle it for you through their Appliance Recycling Residential Program. DTE will pick up your old working refrigerator and then mail you a check for $50. In addition, DTE will pick up your old working freezer and mail you a check for $50. They will also pick up old working room air conditioners and/or dehumidifiers which will qualify you for a $20 rebate (must be picked up with a refrigerator or freezer). They recycle 95 percent of the old refrigerator they collect. [Photo courtesy of AP Images]

We are thrilled to be back at the Canton Farmers Market this year. The Canton Farmers Market is a celebration of locally grown food, delicious food vendors and a thriving community spirit. It takes place every Sunday through the summer at Preservation Park. Join us at the market on the following Sundays for summer storytimes and activities:

There are few things more enjoyable than launching a kite into the sky and watching it soar! Jamie Nye, from Turtle Toys of Clarkston, has been flying kites for over 20 years. Wind willing, she will join us on July 30 from 10:00-11:00AM to show us how it's done as well as guide us through building our very own kite to take home and try ourself. Kite kits are limited. This program is designed for patrons aged 5-12 years old, registration is required and begins on May 26. [Great Lake Kite Festival by Rachel Kramer is licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0]

In honor of Earth Week, which includes Earth Day and Arbor Day, we will have representatives from The Greening of Detroit on hand to discuss what they are doing to transform the physical, and metaphorical, landscape of Detroit. For over two decades, this non-profit organization has been instrumental in spear-heading green initiatives, most notably the repatriation of trees, in conjunction with the City of Detroit and Detroit Public Schools. If you are interested in learning about an innovative and fun project focused on the revitalization of the city, and how you can get involved, please join us on April 24 from 7:00-8:00 PM for this event. There will be the opportunity to sign up for tree-planting and park clean-up volunteer activities as well as enroll in the Citizen Forester program. Check out the Greening on Channel 7 News and in the Detroit Free Press. See the attached document for more details.

Thank you to everyone who voted in our CYS Flower Bracket Game. Lily of the Valley was our big winner! Yea! If you want more information on our fragrant and beautiful winner, along with the many other flowers you can plant here in the mitten state, be sure to check out our gardening collection in both the children's and adult departments. Enjoy the rest of your summer and when you see a Lily of the Valley, think of us!